Bridge to the Future update: Operational Excellence work begins |
Cindy Baccar, former PSU Registrar, and Susan Klees, Director of Fiscal Operations and Services, will serve as the project managers for the Operational Excellence piece of the Bridge to the Future financial sustainability plan. The university has retained the services of MGT Consulting to guide the work. The Operational Excellence work will align administrative structures, reduce duplication, improve consistency and compliance and create clearer career pathways for administrative staff. This work will begin by reviewing Human Resources, Finance and Marketing and Communications processes and structures. Many staff who fulfill these duties will have an opportunity to participate in this multi-year process.
Additionally, the Bridge to the Future website was recently updated:
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- The Office of Academic Affairs is frequently updating its Financial Sustainability Updates webpage with information about the tools, considerations and processes the division is using in reaching its budget reduction goal.
- For Students: There is now a Bridge to the Future webpage and a FAQ page specifically for students. Students were informed of these new pages in today’s edition of Virtual Viking.
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Stay Updated on AAUP and GEU Bargaining |
The Academic Labor Relations team posts regular updates about progress at the bargaining tables, including links to tentative agreements and proposals, to inform the campus community. Last Thursday, three days after the minimum 150-day bargaining timeline ended, PSU'S AAUP union moved to mediation, the next step in the bargaining process for Oregon’s public employees. The parties have reached 11 tentative agreements but several topics remain on the table, with no proposals from either party related to salary and compensation.
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The University and Graduate Employees Union (GEU) have exchanged 16 proposals in the limited economic reopener that began March 1, 2024. However, negotiations have stalled, with GEU last requesting a 77.5% increase in minimum salaries and fully paid healthcare. The University and GEU are set to begin meditation on Dec. 5.
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Heads up: Library food carts temporarily closed for site improvements |
The Millar Library Food carts will be temporarily closed and relocated this week so that required wastewater disposal improvements can be completed. The carts will be returned to the pod and reopened in a few weeks. PSU is working with the cart owners to mitigate the loss of revenue during these closures to support our small business partners.
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This week: Shop for the holidays at the Viking Made pop-up |
The PSU Alumni Association is hosting two Viking Made Markets — a pop up shop — on campus this week featuring gifts and goodies from alumni-owned businesses. Connect with the PSU community and support Viking businesses while holiday shopping for beauty products, cooking essentials, wine, games and much more!
Days: Thursday, Nov. 21 & Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Academic & Student Recreation Center (ASRC) at 1807 SW 5th Ave.
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Nomination deadline extended for Public Impact Research Awards |
PSU serves the Portland region in a unique way as an urban research university. Our researchers find innovative solutions to local, regional, and statewide challenges in various arenas. To celebrate this distinctive role, we've created two new PSU research awards: the Faculty Award for Public Impact Research, and the Public Impact Partner Award. Research and Graduate Studies (RGS) is extending the deadline for nominations in these two categories to Friday, Dec. 6.
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Subscribe to shared calendars for communications and event planning |
The Office of Student Success has reinstated two shared calendars to improve collaboration across campus. The Student Communications Calendar tracks outgoing messages to avoid over-messaging, while the Student Success Events Calendar highlights student-facing events to prevent scheduling conflicts. Review these calendars to guide your planning of student communications and events! To add your planned communication efforts to the calendar, email success@pdx.edu or use the Student Communications Google Form.
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Center for Entrepreneurship seeks innovators
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The Center for Entrepreneurship has a new schedule of free programs and resources available to all students, studying any discipline, at any level in their college career. They are currently accepting applications to The Cube, a business incubator specifically curated to support student-lead startups. Applications close at the end of November!
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International Education Week is Nov. 18-22 |
It’s International Education Week at PSU! Our colleagues at the Office of Global Engagement and Innovation have planned a packed schedule with activities and info sessions to get students excited about education abroad. The highlight of the week is the Fall Study Abroad Fair this Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Karl Miller Center (KMC) Atrium. Please share!
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Donate or participate: Free, gender-affirming clothing exchange |
This Friday, the Queer & Trans Employee Resource Group, along with the PSU Queer Resource Center and the Women’s Resource Center will host Fresh Fall Fits!, a free clothing exchange centered on queer and trans students gaining access to gender-affirming clothing. Allies are also welcome. You can also donate clothing to the exchange. Check out the FAQs linked below for donation details and more event information.
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Add fitness to your daily routine with free classes |
Did you know that Campus Rec offers FREE drop in Group X classes? Come by the Rec Center to join one of our many classes, including Aikido, Self Defense, Water X classes, Barre, HIIT & Abs, yoga, strength, Zumba, fun family fitness, pilates, and more! Checkout the Group X schedule on our website and the member portal to find a class for you. Everyone is welcome!
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Tickets on sale now for Vikings Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony |
Come and witness history on Jan. 31, 2025 as the Portland State Athletics program inducts its newest class into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Erika Boggio (volleyball), Zach Brown (football), Rashad Floyd (football/basketball), Ed Gorman (football/basketball/baseball), Mandy Hill (softball) and Genna Settle (track and field) will be honored for their achievements as Vikings and join the prestigious PSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Hosted by KOIN sports anchor and PSU alum Adam Bjaranson. The event is $50 per person, $400 for a table of eight.
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Attend performances this week from PSU theater and choirs |
Theater: "Y/OURS: tending gratitude and other acts of (radical) subversion" is a production devised, performed and designed by PSU students in the course titled “Devising Social Justice”, which is led by guest instructor Damaris Webb and PSU professor Solomon Weisbard. The play examines the role of a citizen artist in a climate of division and polarization. Performances are Wednesday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 24 at various times and are FREE for PSU students with ID. General admission pay what you can $15-$60. Wednesday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 24, times vary.
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Choirs: "Tapestry of Time", presented by the Portland State University Choirs, is a musical experience of choral selections from around the world. The concert features the world premiere of a new work by Darrell Grant, based on Seamus Heaney’s beloved poem “Digging,” with guest solo artist esperanza spalding. Performances are this Friday and Sunday, Nov. 22 & 24 at Portland’s First Methodist Church. $10 students & seniors. $20 general admission.
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Popular CEPE course on AI returns next month |
PSU’s Center for Executive and Professional Education (CEPE) is offering Navigating the AI Revolution: Ethics, Risks, and Opportunities in the Age of Intelligent Machines, a dynamic two-day online workshop led by CEPE instructor and industry expert Janet Johnson on Dec. 10 and 12, from 1 - 5 p.m. You'll gain essential insights and practical strategies to thrive in the AI-powered landscape. Dive deep into the ethical challenges, explore risk assessment and uncover the transformative opportunities AI presents. This comprehensive workshop covers key topics including AI governance, sustainability, human augmentation and the preservation of human identity in an AI-driven world. Don’t miss out — register for this important event today! Questions? Email us at CEPE@pdx.edu. See you in December!
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News Briefs & Announcements
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Reminder! The info session and submission form rollout for the Race and Ethnic Studies Committee of Faculty Senate is today at 3 p.m. via Zoom.
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Portland State researchers from the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative — working with Oregon Housing and Community Services — recently released a report about the impacts of Turnkey shelters between October 2022 and August 2024.
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Anna Rockhill, senior research associate in the Regional Research Institute, discussed a new report with Willamette Week examining Project Turnkey and the model’s success providing emergency shelter; Richard Clucas, politics professor, discussed the results of Portland’s recent election which led to the most diverse city council in the city’s history with the Guardian; and Professor of Political Science Melody Valdini talked with the Oregonian about the city’s first election utilizing ranked-choice voting.
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People
Anne McClanan
Presented
Paula Carder, Walter Dawson, Sarah Dys, Bennett Gilbert, Inle Gonzalez Martín Alberto Gonzalez, Serena Hasworth, Courtney Hermann, Ellis Hews, Dani Himes, Jacklyn Kohon, Cassio de Oliveira, John Ott, Melissa Patiño-Vega, Ryan Petteway, Jessica I. Ramirez, Allyson Stodola, Gerry Sussman, Ozcan Tunililar, Inés Warnock
Published/Exhibited
Sarah Dys, Óscar Fernández, Sherril Gelmon, Papireddy Kancharla, Ted Khoury, Mary Marshall, Anne McClanan, David Peterson del Mar, Jack Straton, Ozcan Tunililar
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CURRENTLY is a weekly newsletter for the employees of Portland State University, published by University Communications. News items, events and accolades should be sent to currently@pdx.edu. Deadline is noon, the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.
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